8,557 research outputs found

    A Discotic Disguised as a Smectic: A Hybrid Columnar Bragg Glass

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    We show that discotics, lying deep in the columnar phase, can exhibit an x-ray scattering pattern which mimics that of a somewhat unusual smectic liquid crystal. This exotic, new glassy phase of columnar liquid crystals, which we call a ``hybrid columnar Bragg glass'', can be achieved by confining a columnar liquid crystal in an anisotropic random environment of e.g., strained aerogel. Long-ranged orientational order in this phase makes {\em single domain} x-ray scattering possible, from which a wealth of information could be extracted. We give detailed quantitative predictions for the scattering pattern in addition to exponents characterizing anomalous elasticity of the system.Comment: 4 RevTeX pgs, 2 eps figures. To appear in PR

    Baryon Magnetic Moments and Proton Spin: A Model with Collective Quark Rotation

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    We analyse the baryon magnetic moments in a model that relates them to the parton spins Δu\Delta u, Δd\Delta d, Δs\Delta s, and includes a contribution from orbital angular momentum. The specific assumption is the existence of a 3-quark correlation (such as a flux string) that rotates with angular momentum ⟨Lz⟩\langle L_z \rangle around the proton spin axis. A fit to the baryon magnetic moments, constrained by the measured values of the axial vector coupling constants a(3)=F+Da^{(3)}=F+D, a(8)=3F−Da^{(8)}=3F-D, yields ⟨Sz⟩=0.08±0.13\langle S_z \rangle = 0.08 \pm 0.13, ⟨Lz⟩=0.39±0.09\langle L_z \rangle = 0.39 \pm 0.09, where the error is a theoretical estimate. A second fit, under slightly different assumptions, gives ⟨Lz⟩=0.37±0.09\langle L_z \rangle = 0.37 \pm 0.09, with no constraint on ⟨Sz⟩\langle S_z \rangle. The model provides a consistent description of axial vector couplings, magnetic moments and the quark polarization ⟨Sz⟩\langle S_z \rangle measured in deep inelastic scattering. The fits suggest that a significant part of the angular momentum of the proton may reside in a collective rotation of the constituent quarks.Comment: 16 pages, 3 ps-figures, uses RevTeX. Abstract, Sec. II, III and IV have been expande

    Fermi Coordinates for Weak Gravitational Fields

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    A Reference is corrected. (We derive the Fermi coordinate system of an observer in arbitrary motion in an arbitrary weak gravitational field valid to all orders in the geodesic distance from the worldline of the observer. In flat space-time this leads to a generalization of Rindler space for arbitrary acceleration and rotation. The general approach is applied to the special case of an observer resting with respect to the weak gravitational field of a static mass distribution. This allows to make the correspondence between general relativity and Newtonian gravity more precise.)Comment: 7 Pages, Preprint KONS-RGKU-94-04, LaTe

    A survey of diffuse interstellar bands in the Andromeda galaxy: optical spectroscopy of M31 OB stars

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    We present the largest sample to-date of intermediate-resolution blue-to-red optical spectra of B-type supergiants in M31 and undertake the first survey of diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) in this galaxy. Spectral classifications, radial velocities and interstellar reddenings are presented for 34 stars in three regions of M31. Radial velocities and equivalent widths are given for the 5780 and 6283 DIBs towards 11 stars. Equivalent widths are also presented for the following DIBs detected in three sightlines in M31: 4428, 5705, 5780, 5797, 6203, 6269, 6283, 6379, 6613, 6660, and 6993. All of these M31 DIB carriers reside in clouds at radial velocities matching those of interstellar Na I and/or H I. The relationships between DIB equivalent widths and reddening (E(B-V)) are consistent with those observed in the local ISM of the Milky Way. Many of the observed sightlines show DIB strengths (per unit reddening) which lie at the upper end of the range of Galactic values. DIB strengths per unit reddening are found (with 68% confidence), to correlate with the interstellar UV radiation field strength. The strongest DIBs are observed where the interstellar UV flux is lowest. The mean Spitzer 8/24 micron emission ratio in our three fields is slightly lower than that measured in the Milky Way, but we identify no correlation between this ratio and the DIB strengths in M31. Interstellar oxygen abundances derived from the spectra of three M31 H II regions in one of the fields indicate that the average metallicity of the ISM in that region is 12 + log[O/H] = 8.54 +- 0.18, which is approximately equal to the value in the solar neighbourhood

    Magnetic and axial vector form factors as probes of orbital angular momentum in the proton

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    We have recently examined the static properties of the baryon octet (magnetic moments and axial vector coupling constants) in a generalized quark model in which the angular momentum of a polarized nucleon is partly spin ⟨Sz⟩\langle S_z \rangle and partly orbital ⟨Lz⟩\langle L_z \rangle. The orbital momentum was represented by the rotation of a flux-tube connecting the three constituent quarks. The best fit is obtained with ⟨Sz⟩=0.08±0.15\langle S_z \rangle = 0.08\pm 0.15, ⟨Lz⟩=0.42±0.14\langle L_z \rangle = 0.42\pm 0.14. We now consider the consequences of this idea for the q2q^2-dependence of the magnetic and axial vector form factors. It is found that the isovector magnetic form factor GMisovec(q2)G_M^{\mathrm{isovec}}(q^2) differs in shape from the axial form factor FA(q2)F_A(q^2) by an amount that depends on the spatial distribution of orbital angular momentum. The model of a rigidly rotating flux-tube leads to a relation between the magnetic, axial vector and matter radii, ⟨r2⟩mag=fspin⟨r2⟩axial+52forb⟨r2⟩matt\langle r^2 \rangle_{\mathrm{mag}} = f_{\mathrm{spin}} \langle r^2 \rangle_{\mathrm{axial}} + \frac{5}{2} f_{\mathrm{orb}} \langle r^2 \rangle_{\mathrm{matt}}, where forb/fspin=13⟨Lz⟩/GAf_{\mathrm{orb}}/ f_{\mathrm{spin}} = \frac{1}{3}\langle L_z \rangle / G_A, fspin+forb=1f_{\mathrm{spin}} + f_{\mathrm{orb}} = 1. The shape of FA(q2)F_A(q^2) is found to be close to a dipole with MA=0.92±0.06M_A = 0.92\pm 0.06 GeV.Comment: 18 pages, 5 ps-figures, uses RevTe

    A review of subtropical community resistance and resilience to extreme cold spells

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    Forecasted changes in global climate predict not only shifts in average conditions but also changes in the frequency and intensity of climate extremes. In the subtropics, the passage of extreme cold spells functions as a major structuring force for ecological communities, and can incur substantial losses to biodiversity, agriculture, and infrastructure. If these events persist in the future, it is likely that their effects on subtropical communities and ecosystems will become more pronounced, as tropical species migrate poleward. Recent extreme cold spells in subtropical China (2008) and United States (2010) occurred in ecosystems that are the subject of long-term ecological study, enabling key questions about cold spell affects to be addressed. In this study, we (1) discuss the meteorological drivers that resulted in these two extreme cold spells, and (2) use findings from case studies published in the Ecosphere Special Feature on effects of extreme cold spells on the dynamics of subtropical communities, and on poleward expansion of tropical species and other previously published works to identify consistencies of subtropical community resilience and resistance to extreme cold spells. In this review, we highlight three consistent findings related to this particularly type of extreme climate event: (1) cold spells drive predictable community change in the subtropics by altering ratios of coexisting tropical and temperate species; (2) certain landscape features consistently affect subtropical resistance and resilience to extreme cold spells; and (3) native tropical species are more resistant and resilient to extreme cold spells than tropical nonnative taxa. Our review should improve forecasts of the response of subtropical community dynamics in scenarios where extreme cold spells either increase or decrease in frequency and intensity
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